She also signed a bill opposing gay couples’ adoption rights on the same day.
It is understandable that not every elected republican or democrat will advocate for all topics generally promoted under their parties; however, they are expected to fight for the platforms which they promised voters. The governor of Oklahoma, Republican Mary Fallin, recently abandoned conservative efforts in her pledge to fight for the second amendment.
While despicable in itself, Fallin is notably on her way out of office, yet managed to upset Oklahomans both on the left and right when she signed notable legislation on Friday that opposes constitutional carry as well as same sex adoption laws.
Governor Fallin has previously claimed to be a strong second amendment supporter; however, her actions while in office have proved otherwise.
Even before gun control was a major media topic, Fallin was working alongside democrats in 2014 and 2015 to veto bills which would have loosened restrictions on accessories such as silencers, as well as one that would have “restricted businesses from banning guns at parks, fairgrounds, and recreational areas.”
Yet Fallin continues to bring up that “she had signed concealed and open carry measures in the past,” saying, “I believe the firearm laws we currently have in place are effective, appropriate, and minimal.”
This is somewhat unsurprising considering that apparently law enforcement in the state openly opposed the open carry bill claiming it to be a public safety threat on the basis that legalizing open carrying would “have eliminated the requirement for a training course and reduced the level of background checks to carry a gun.”
Of course, the National Rifle Association was in full support of constitutional carry, so the bill’s veto is a clear disregard to citizens’ personal safety, the NRA, and the Constitution itself.
Chris Cox on behalf of the NRA-Institute for Legislative Action said, “Make no mistake, this temporary setback will be rectified when Oklahoma residents elect a new and genuinely pro-second amendment governor.”
Currently, only 12 other states have constitutional carry laws which extend to citizens over 21 years old, along with active-duty military members.
However, in Oklahoma, a generally red state otherwise, residents must obtain a concealed carry permit “to carry a firearm at all.”
While public safety, legislators are claiming, is the most important priority, there are, of course, financial incentives to keeping carrying firearms limited to concealed only: the state safety bureau makes a significant profit from issuing such permits, a reported $4.7 million.
Not only that, but by eliminating a need to obtain a permit, an estimated 60 government employees’ jobs would be at risk.
Of course, this is a ridiculous trade-off: to consider several dozen workers’ jobs over the entirety of the state’s second amendment rights.
Director of the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation, Bob Ricks, was a key player in opposing the bill, calling the vetoing of it “unquantifiable.”
Thankfully, however, Fallin is currently serving her final term as governor and when an actual republican takes office, Oklahoma residents can again begin hoping for constitutional carry in the near future.
“A republican political strategist,” Trebor Worthen said, “Republican voters believe in the second amendment and they believe they should be able to exercise that right with as little interference from the government as possible. Especially in rural areas.”
Other than appeasing government employees in her state, it is unclear why Fallin is apparently trying to upset Oklahoma citizens in the final days of her term which she will surely be remembered by.
Also on Friday, when she vetoed the constitutional carry law, Fallin signed a law which would protect faith-based adoption agencies from being allowed “to exclude same sex couples from adoptions.”
This is admittedly a win for conservative first amendment rights and prompted Catholic bishops to join the conversation, claiming that the new law, which is to be implemented November 1, will allow Christian organizations to place “Oklahoma’s most vulnerable children” in what they determine to be the most appropriate families.
This is an important consideration; however, it is undeniably controversial considering the devastating number of children in foster care, as well as those unfortunate enough to die at the hands of the abortion industry.
If allowing gay couples to adopt otherwise unwanted children and spare them from either mentioned fates, then it remains important to consider the effects of such a law.
Yet it appears that Fallin has turned undeniably liberal, simply seen in her desire to extend restrictive laws to Oklahomans while she still has the opportunity to do so.
Consequently, it appears that she will not be missed after her term is finally over. Both conservatives and liberals in the state are appalled at the recent laws; however, at least when another republican governor is elected, the constitutional carry law will once again be up for consideration, and under a non-influenced politician from the right, it will surely pass.
Nwo Report 